Prevegetated blanket

ABSTRACT

A prevegetated blanket protects an exposed soil surface from erosion in an efficient manner. The prevegetated blanket has a fibrous structure, with a water retaining composition, water retention substance and topsoil to receive the desired seeds. Components of the prevegetated blanket of this invention grow a living membrane for native and cover crops in a controlled environment in a weed free, state. Then, the prevegetated blanket is transferred to a specific site and installed immediately after soil is prepared.

This invention relates to a prevegetated blanket and more particularlyto a prevegetated blanket to protect an exposed soil surface fromerosion in an efficient manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In any construction procedure, soil erosion is usually a major problem.With soil erosion, prevention is always easier than correction. Manyways are known in the prevention of soil erosion. In soil areas, withvegetation growing, the root system of the plants can prevent erosion.So, the faster root growth can occur in area, the more likely it is thatsoil erosion can be prevented, or at least minimized.

Current erosion treatments are carried out after the site is graded andseed is applied. A site-specific seed type and cover crop are applied bybroadcast seeding, slip seeding, drill seeding, or hydro seeding. Withfavorable weather conditions or supplemental watering in controlledincrements, the seed source may start to establish once within three orfour weeks. The soil can then be stabilized with the living plants. Inthe meantime, this practice has a great problem for causing soil loss byerosion, due to the period of no vegetation and lack of emerging rootgrowth.

Typical seeds for cover crops include, but are not limited to annualrye, fescue and spring oats. Seeding generally takes longer to establishthe root system to minimize or prevent erosion. Those plans usuallyrequire two or three growing seasons for maturity and the establishmentof good ground cover. In normal practices, job site and outsideconditions affect the success of seed growth. Heavy rain or hot climatescan cause the seed or soil to erode without proper maintenance.

In extremely difficult climates, additional water and herbicidetreatments are necessary to establish the seed and create a root base tominimize erosion. If the site is already suffering from damage such aserosion problems, additional soil and seed applications may benecessary. Such actions add greatly to the expense of erosionprevention.

Soil customarily contains tremendous amounts of seed sources, thatproduce weeds. Once the soil is disturbed, new annual weeds will beginto germinate, and overtake a cover crop and the native seed source.Weeds are very undesirable. Avoidance of a weed crop is very desirable.Quick growth of desired vegetation is a very desirable method ofavoiding a weed crop.

Currently, live plugs, that is small pieces of desired vegetation, arethe only way to get an immediate vegetation coverage, which can competewith weed seeds. Planting the live plugs is labor-intensive. The plugsthemselves are also costly. Then the maintenance of the plugs is aproblem.

Additionally, because of short growing seasons in the upper Midwest,this success of the native species and its growth will be shortened. Itwill therefore take more growing seasons to have any native speciesfunction as the erosion-preventing ground cover. In that case,treatments to prevent extreme weed competition can include controlledburns or herbicides. Such treatments can cause more problems than theysolve. A controlled burn requires a fire department presence forreasonable safety. Herbicides have environmental consequences, even withcareful application thereof.

Normally when exposed soil is to be seeded the grade, a seed type isapplied by either broadcast or hydro seeded from that point. But atapplication, the specified seed is just that, seed. It has not developedinto an erosion preventing plant. Thus, it usually will take a three tofour week period, under good growing conditions, to see a cover cropcome up. Seed generally takes longer to establish than living plants totake hold and root.

Also, a seeding process is usually fighting many uphill battles.Inclement weather types, such as heavy rains, extreme heat or both,cause seeds fight a losing battle in the attempt become rooted orsprouted in the desired. Even under an erosion control blanket, seedsstill have those problems. If the construction site is already wet orhas a fast unpredicted rise of water flow, because of urban run off ornaturally occurring stream rising or falling, it creates an additionaluphill battle for seeds. Other problems for seeds include spikes inrunoff or rain fall directly or usually prevent full establishment ofthe seed.

The seeding process, which was originally designed to take two to threedays, now requires much more labor and tremendous efforts to redo.Nevertheless, that which was originally installed, now requires constantmaintenance; such as adding new soil, reseeding, using additional wateror re blanketing. Blanketing applies a cover to seeds, as a specialerosion control measure. These operations add a tremendous additionalexpense as well. If the project is successful for normal operationstandards, still weed treatments such as herbicides or cutting must bedone to allow access for Native foliage to grow. Then, in most of theUnited States, the summer heat moves in at the end of June throughSeptember 15. Native foliage becomes succulent and young; and cannotfight the annual weed competition.

Such plantings are not acceptable and will get the appropriate signingoff as successful by permitting authority as well as engineers or thecontractor. General contractors and the subcontractors cannot getfinished pay outs, thereby restricting cash flow and causing moremaintenance to get acceptance of success.

While this may seem odd, under normal practices, this is usually howcommercial jobs operate. Because of unit costs up front, installationprices per unit are very expensive. It is the way this is done. Noappropriate solution is available.

Additionally, one must factor in monitoring the site, herbicidetreatments, watering regimens and top dressing or even reseeding, thetrue price per unit is high and still may take years to see truesuccess. In the interim, soil loss and natural waterways, wetlands, orother areas are polluted. Remedies therefor occur at a large cost.Compounding daily across the United States is a large scaleenvironmental problem from non source point pollution.

It is very necessary to create an alternative process to limit lossexposure and create situations to have a better chance of success; suchsuccess including, but not limited to, reduced overall herbicide use andlimited chances of storm events to compromise a sight to see crediblechanges in plant community establishment faster and protect ourenvironment. To that end, it is very desirable to have an efficientmethod of getting desired vegetation in a desired place at a desiredtime. It is furthermore valuable to be able to control erosion andproduce native grass or turf grass on difficult sites or erodible soils,quickly and efficiently with reduced labor in maintenance requirements.

Attempts to solve some of these problems with vegetated blankets canalso be a problem. It is difficult to produce a proper blanket forcontrol of erosion. Not only that, it is difficult to move the blanketsto a desired location. Then application of the blanket to the desiredsurface can be complicated and difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the many objectives of the present invention is the provision of aprevegetated blanket providing desired seeds and low maintenance to adesired area of erodible soil.

Another objective of the present invention is the provision of aprevegetated blanket, which is easily maintained.

Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of aprevegetated blanket, which minimizes environmental damage.

Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of aprevegetated blanket, which provides for at least reduced herbicidetreatment.

A further objective of the present invention is the provision of aprevegetated blanket, which uses minimal water.

A still further objective of the present invention is the provision of aprevegetated blanket, which minimizes erosion.

Yet a further objective of the present invention is the provision of aprevegetated blanket, which provides for no herbicide treatment.

Also an objective of the present invention is the provision of aprevegetated blanket, which provides for minimal herbicide treatment.

Another objective of the present invention is the provision of aprevegetated blanket, which is easily transported.

Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of aprevegetated blanket, which is easily installed.

These and other objectives of the invention (which other objectivesbecome clear by consideration of the specification, claims and drawingsas a whole) are met by providing a prevegetated blanket having a fibrousstructure, with a water retaining composition or a water retentionsubstance and topsoil to receive the desired seeds; all componentsthereof being preferably impregnated therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a box diagram of the structural assembly 100 of thisinvention.

FIG. 2 depicts an exploded, perspective view of the structural assembly100 for the prevegetated blanket 116 of this invention.

FIG. 3 depicts a side, cross-sectioned view of the prevegetated blanket116 of this invention, based on FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of the structural assembly 100 of thisinvention on a site 102.

FIG. 5 depicts tray 130 for the structural assembly 100 of thisinvention.

FIG. 6 depicts tray 130 for the structural assembly 100 of thisinvention as storage stack 170.

FIG. 7 depicts tray 130 for the structural assembly 100 of thisinvention as transportation stack 200, on truck 210.

Throughout the figures of the drawings, where the same part appears inmore than one figure of the drawings, the same number is appliedthereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of theinvention that are illustrated in accompanying drawings. Wheneverpossible, the same or similar reference numerals are used in thedrawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts orsteps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale.For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms such astop, bottom, left, right, up, down, over, above, below, beneath, rear,and front, may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similardirectional terms are not to be construed to limit the scope of theinvention in any manner. The words attach, connect, couple, and similarterms with their inflectional morphemes do not necessarily denote director intermediate connections, but may also include connections throughmediate elements or devices.

Components of the prevegetated blanket of this invention prevent erosionand grow a living membrane for native and cover crops in a controlledenvironment in a weed free state. Then the prevegetated blanket istransferred to a specific site and installed immediately after soil isprepared. By the end of a day, a living plant matrix is installed. Rootswill be established in the soil within about two days of blanketinstallation, because the roots already exist. Plant heights will varyon species but are usually about 7.6 centimeters (three inches) to 15.2centimeters (six inches) tall upon installation and provide an immediategood cover crop.

Weed seeds are not exposed to sun and are covered, thereby at leastsubstantially reduced as a living crop. In fact, weeds can now be keptto a dormant state. Now watering by mother nature gently or violentlywill now reduce erosion by 50 percent conservation upon installation:

This process uses erosion control standards in place of standardsfollowed across the country, by engineers utilizing other controlledconditions. Then solar heat and sun, organic watering along withstandard growing medium or growth media, such as top soil, and neutralroot media permit plants to thrive. They are also cost effective andprovide at least eighty percent (80%) cover. Thus, these are livingplant communities born to prevent erosion.

A substrate receives a growth medium or a topsoil layer and desiredseeds. Preferably, the substrate is a fibrous, non-woven substrate, or afiber pad. Such substrates are known as erosion control blankets. Atleast one net layer supports the substrate and keeps desired materialstherein or thereon. The net layer may be polyethylene, polypropylene, oranother suitable polymer, or copolymers thereof. A polypropylene netappears to be more durable and is preferred. Even more preferred is tohave the net be of biodegradable material. The net, with its lines andopenings, provide structure and strength for the prevegetated blanket,without interfering with the purpose thereof.

The prevegetated blanket utilizes significantly less top soil thatprevious, conventional methods. Due to the reduction in the amount oftop soil, the prevegetated blankets weigh significantly less and can bepotentially carried to job sites where vehicles can travel. For example,a vehicle may not be able to reach near the edges of ponds that have asteep downhill grade toward the pond. In this environment, the groundmay be soft and watery and the vehicle may risk getting stuck. Thelighter prevegetated blanket can be carried to the desired location andinstalled thus alleviating this potential problem.

Moreover, more of the present, lighter prevegetated blankets, measuredin square meters, even when covered, can be legally carried on a semitruck or trailer and transported to a job site. Thus, reducing thenumber of trips between the greenhouse or other growing facility and theinstallation site. Finally, previous blankets tended to shrink betweenthe process of cutting, transporting, and installing at the job site.The present prevegetated blankets do not shrink during this process andthus, even more square feet of surface coverage can be transported andinstalled at a job site on a single semi truck or trailer.

In previous methods, 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) to 3.8 centimeters (1.5inches) of dry weight of growth medium such as peat or top soil isutilized. However, in the present invention, 0.3 centimeters (⅛ inch) to1.9 centimeters (¾ inch) of growth medium such as top soil is used. Inthe preferred embodiment, no more than 1.3 centimeters (½ inch) ofgrowth medium such a top soil is used.

The following is intended as an illustrative example of the great weightreduction provided by the present invention. In the present invention,live blankets containing 3.34 square meters (36 square feet) of materialweigh between 36.29 kilograms (80 pounds) and 56.7 kilograms (125pounds). In previous methods, sod blankets containing 0.93 square meters(10 square feet) of material weigh 36.3 kilograms (80 pounds) to 38.56kilograms (85 pounds). For a direct comparison of the approximate weightdifference between the previous and present methods, the previousembodiment weights must be multiplied by 3.6 to account for thedifference in square meters. For the same amount of material, theprevious blankets weigh between 130.63 kilograms (288 pounds) and 138.8kilograms (306 pounds).

Also, previous methods were severely limited as to the type of plantthey are able to grow and transport to installation sites. Previousmethods were substantially limited to Kentucky Bluegrass, Ryes, Fescues,Bent Grasses, and Bermuda Grasses. In contrast, the present invention isnearly unlimited as to the plants, seeds, grasses, or bulbs that can begrown, transported and installed. The present invention can handleKentucky Bluegrass, Ryes, Fescues, Bent Grasses, and Bermuda Grasses.Also, the present invention can grow, transport, and install anunlimited variety of other seeds and plants. Some examples include, butare not limited to, sedges such as Prairie Sedges, Bristly Sedge, FoxSedge, and Fringed Sedge, native grasses such as Sweet Grass, IndianGrass, Wood Reed Grass, and June Grass. The present invention can alsohandle wet mesic plant varieties, woodland grasses, prairie plants,wildflower, and annuals. This list, for the present invention, isintended to illustrate the wide variety of seeds that can be grown,transported, and installed with this invention. However, it by no meansis intended to limit the present invention to these seeds alone.

Referring now to FIG. 1, structural assembly 100 has seed 110 and, incertain cases plant plugs, applied to a fiber pad or fibrous substrate120. Fiber pad and fibrous substrate 120 are used interchangeablythroughout the application but refer to the same component. Between theseed 110 and fiber pad 120 are applied a growth medium 112, such as topsoil, and top net 118, preferably of polypropylene. Fiber pad 120 hasthe top net 118 on a top surface thereof and a bottom net 122,preferably of polypropylene, on a bottom surface thereof to form astatic prevegetated blanket 116. This structure, by adding seed 110 tothe fiber pad 120, with the additional application of a growth medium112, forms a live blanket 114 of the prevegetated blanket 116.Fertilizer may also be applied to the seed mix 110 to aid in growth.

Growth medium 112 can be a variety of substances and any suitablesubstance for providing nutrients and a proper growth environment forthe plants. In one embodiment, the use of top soil can be substantiallylimited as to reduce the weight of the live blanket 114 during transportand installation. Thus, the live blanket 114 can be installed in placesthat are hard to reach by truck or trailer 210. In other embodiments,some suitable examples of growth medium 112 include top soil, sphagnum,vermiculite, or a pre mixed growing media. Vermiculite and similarmaterials are very useful for water retention in the live blanket 114.Many of these growth mediums 112 are sold in bulk compost soilsestablishments and starter nutrients. As can be clearly seen, there aregreat flexibility and advantages in the use of growth medium 112.

In the preferred embodiment, fibrous pad 120 is 4 millimeters (0.157inches) to 14 millimeters (0.551 inches) thick. In a more preferredembodiment, fibrous pad 120 is 5 millimeters (0.197 inches) to 13millimeters (0.512 inches) thick. In the most preferred embodiment,fibrous pad 120 is 6 millimeters (0.236 inches) to 12 millimeters (0.472inches) thick.

Adding FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 to the consideration, support for the liveblanket 114 comes from a tray support, preferably in the form of tray ortray support 130. Tray 130 is a rectangular or square open tray withedges and a t-grid 132 at a bottom portion thereof for support of liveblanket 114. At a top edge of tray 130 is a top tray interconnect 134.Within a side of tray 130 is a grip slot 136. Grip slot 136 provides forlifting tray 130 or a stack thereof manually, or with a forklift orsuitable device (not shown). T-grid 132 is low enough in tray 130 toprovide a growth space 138 for grass 126 of live blanket 114.

Top tray interconnect 134 cooperates, preferably in a male to femalerelationship, with a bottom tray connect 140 on a bottom edge thereof inorder to permit nesting or stacking of a plurality of trays 130. Toptray interconnect 134 cooperates with a bottom tray connect 140 toprovide a stable stack or nestable stack of trays 130. T-grid 132 isspaced from a bottom of tray 130 in order to provide a root space 148,for roots 124, between a pair or a plurality of stacked trays 130.

The tray 130 may be supported on a supply of smooth aggregate 150 (FIG.2), which can also serve as a water retaining substance, as the liveblanket 114 is assembled therein. However, vermiculite and similarsubstances are the preferred water retaining substance. Alternatively,the live blanket 114 may be assembled as a larger structure and cut tofit the tray 130. The aggregate 150, with the T-grid 132, supports thelive blanket 114. The watering of the live blanket 114 may befacilitated thereby.

With the further consideration of FIG. 4, use of a series of the liveblankets 114 becomes clear. Root space 148 (as shown in FIG. 3) isprovided on site 102. Staples 158, preferably of the landscape type,support the series of live blankets 114 in a desired position. At theedge of each live blanket 114, which adjoins another live blanket 114,is an overlapped edge 160 of the series of live blankets 114. Suchoverlapping encourages water to run down the live blanket 114, withouteroding the same. At the edge of site 102 is a tucked edge 162 of theseries of live blankets 114, which does not adjoin another live blanket114.

Now adding FIG. 5 to the discussion, tray 130 has t-grid 132 near abottom portion thereof, to support live blanket 114. At a top portion oftray 130 is top tray interconnect 134. Top tray interconnect 134 servesas the male portion of the nesting capability for a stack of trays 130.Bottom tray connect 140 (FIG. 3) serves as the female portion of thenesting capability for a stack of trays 130 in cooperation with top trayinterconnect 134. Grip slot 136 permits manual or forklift (not shown)lifting of tray or trays 130.

Stacking advantages become even more clear with the consideration ofFIG. 6 and FIG. 7. Live blanket 114 within tray 130 can be stacked forstorage or transport. Storage stack 170 of 24 trays 130 is shown in FIG.6. Transportation stack 200 shows a load of a plurality of trays 130 ina series of stacks of ten trays 130 on truck 210. The nesting capabilityfor a stack of trays 130 is thus illustrated. Once installation of thelive blanket 114 at a job site is complete, empty tray 130 is returnedto the original greenhouse or other growing site and is reused andrecycled for future blankets 114.

Stacking of trays 130 on truck 210 has added benefits. The upper trays130 protect the live blankets 114 in lower trays 130 from heat, sun,wind, and other environmental conditions. Stacking of trays 130especially helps protect roots 124 from drying and destroying liveblanket 114. Stacking of trays 130 offers great advantages andflexibility in transportation and installation of live blankets 114.

Within the current national and stated standards and practices forpreventing erosion, growing a living prevegetated erosion controlblanket will increase the establishment of a native plant source orcover crop. By using this live blanket 114, weed seeds will remaindormant. Also, erodible soils will be reduced by fifty percent, and thevegetative cover will be increased by eighty percent.

The process of growing the prevegetated blanket is designed usingexisting erosion control components and standards currently in place ina controlled environment. By using specific existing growing media in anon-soil hydroponics root mass with this prevegetated blanket,vegetation and root stabilization takes two to three weeks as desired.This very compressed system greatly reduces erosion.

A variety of components are suitable for use for the prevegetatedblanket. Preferred components of the prevegetated blanket are asfollows:

(1) Aggregate: Stone smooth, round, with a diameter of about 0.6centimeter (0.25 inch) to 2.5 centimeters (0.75 inch) to prevent rootgrowth resistance.

(2) Erosion control blankets are fibrous substrates or blankets ofvegetable fibers. Typical such blankets include, but are not limited tothe following commercially available blankets: C125 core fiber blanket,DC 250 double net coconut or core blanket, MC 250 double net core matrixblanket, C32 core fiber blanket, TRM C 350 turf reinforcement corematrix blanket and a bio D SCF 30 core stitched blanket with photodegradable netting.

(3) Growing Medium: Sphagnum for organic matter, vermiculite for waterretention or water retaining substance and topsoil for seed or a premixed growing media. These growth mediums are sold in bulk compost soilsestablishment and starter nutrients.

(4) A seed cover crop including but not limited to wildflower mix, puremesic, native, herbs, now mow turf, fescue, annual or perennial rye maybe used.

Depending upon the blanket application, supplemental plant plugs may beused. The application of the prevegetated blanket will determine theseed source used.

Manufacturing or growing procedures for the prevegetated blanketinclude:

Step 1: Growing Area Preparation for the blanket.

An aggregate base having a thickness between 10 centimeters (fourinches) and 33 centimeters (twelve inches) is used. This prevents weedsfrom germinating up through the aggregate base.

Step 2: Blanket Preparation.

An erosion control blanket between about 2.4 meters (eight feet) wideand 34.1 meters (112 feet) in length are laid out on top of theaggregate. A growing or growth medium or media are then preferablyapplied on the surface of the blanket at a thickness of about 0.5centimeter to about 4 centimeters. More preferably, the growing orgrowth medium or media is applied on the surface of the blanket at athickness of about 0.5 centimeters to about 3 centimeters. Mostpreferably, the growing or growth medium or media is applied on thesurface of the blanket at a thickness of about 0.5 centimeters to about1.5 centimeters. Most desirably preferred is thickness of about 1.0centimeters (0.375 inch). The desired seed mix is then applied on thesurface of the growing media. After seed, fertilizer is then applied.

Step 3: Growth Period.

Once the components are installed on the aggregate, the prevegetatedblanket is then preferably watered at a rate of about of 1 liter to 3liters per square meter. More preferably, the prevegetated blanket isthen preferably watered at a rate of about of 1.5 liters to 2.5 litersper square meter. Most preferably, the prevegetated blanket is thenpreferably watered at a rate of about of 1.7 liters to 2.1 liters persquare meter. Continued watering depends on the seed applied, anywherefrom two liters to 3.9 liters (one gallon) per 0.1 square meter (onesquare foot) twice a week. To harden the crop before shipment, water isreduced slowly by unit volume for a three to a four-day span.

Within three weeks, a root depth of 1.2 centimeters (0.5 inch) to 2.5centimeters (about one inch) is established with a shoot height between1.2 centimeters (0.5 inch) to 5.1 centimeters (about two inches). Theproduct is then ready for shipment to a specific job site forinstallation.

Step 4: Shipping.

About 9.1 meter (30 feet) sections are cut, shaken lightly to remove anybonded aggregates and lifted to a trailer for transport. The aggregatestays at the greenhouse or other growing facility. The blanket iswatered and tarped to prevent moisture loss and damage caused by windand shipped to a site. The live, prevegetated blanket is installedfollowing all standard installation methods.

Step 5: Installation.

Installation practices follow erosion control blanket standards.

In conclusion, installing a prevegetated erosion control blanket iseasier and faster to install with immediate vegetation and isaesthetically more complete visually for a compliance sign off, requiredfor payment on construction projects.

In the following examples, which are intended to illustrate withoutunduly limiting the scope of this invention, all parts and percentagesare by weight unless otherwise indicated.

Example 1

A drainage ditch is designed to carry parking lot water as runoff to awet detention area. Grading is done to create a swale to carry water toa crested wetland. Under permits and an engineering plan, the site isseeded. Then an applied erosion control measure or blanket is applied tosecondarily protect the seed of a specified plant from moving or erodingunder the blanket.

About one week later about one inch of rain, washes away the seed,because there are no growing roots from seed to prevent the washing awayor erosion. After a month, the crop of annual weeds appears, and newseed plants are forced out because of compaction or competition.

Example 2

The procedure of Example 1 is repeated, except that a live prevegetatedblanket using the same seed as Example 1, replaces the seed and theblanket of Example 1. About one week later about one inch of rain,leaves the seed intact, because there are growing roots from seed toprevent erosion. After a month, the crop of new seed plants is wellsettled, and the annual weeds common to the area are absent. The use ofthe live prevegetated blanket provides the successful end result of thisexample.

This application—taken as a whole with the abstract, specification,claims, and drawings—provides sufficient information for a person havingordinary skill in the art to practice the invention as disclosed andclaimed herein. Any measures necessary to practice this invention arewell within the skill of a person having ordinary skill in this artafter that person has made a careful study of this disclosure.

Because of this disclosure and solely because of this disclosure,modification of this tool can become clear to a person having ordinaryskill in this particular art. Such modifications are clearly covered bythis disclosure.

1. A method of forming and transporting a prevegetated blanketcomprising sequentially: a) providing an aggregate base about 10centimeters to 33 centimeters thick to provide weed reduction; b) layingat least one erosion control blanket on the aggregate; c) providing atleast one growing medium to a surface of the at least one erosioncontrol blanket at a thickness of about 0.3 to about 1.9 centimeters; d)applying a desired seed mix to the at least one growing medium; e)applying a fertilizer to the desired seed mix on the at least onegrowing medium to form an assembly; f) applying water to the assembly toform the prevegetated blanket; g) separating the prevegetated blanketfrom the aggregate base to form a separated prevegetated blanket; h)cutting the separated prevegetated blanket to form cut prevegetatedblankets each sized and configured to fit in stackable trays; i) placingeach cut separated prevegetated blanket in a stackable tray to form astackable tray assembly; j) forming at least two of the stackable trayassemblies; and k) forming a stack of the stackable tray assemblies. 2.The method of claim 1 further comprising: a) shaking each cutprevegetated blanket prior to forming the stackable tray assembly toremove any bonded aggregates; b) lifting the stack of the stackable trayassemblies to a trailer for transport; c) watering the stack ofstackable tray assemblies containing the prevegetated blankets; d)covering the stack of stackable tray assemblies with a tarp to preventmoisture loss and damage; and e) shipping at least one stack ofstackable tray assemblies to a site.
 3. The method of claim 2 furthercomprising: a) separating the prevegetated blankets from the stackabletray assemblies at the site; b) installing the prevegetated blankets atthe site; and c) combining a plurality of the prevegetated blankets toform at least one erosion control blanket as a fibrous structureimpregnated with a water retaining composition, impregnated with a waterretention substance and having topsoil therein or thereon.
 4. The methodof claim 3 further comprising: a) watering the prevegetated blanket at arate of one liter to three liters per square meter after the growingmedium, the seed mix, and the fertilizer have been applied; b) growingthe seed mix in the prevegetated blanket; and c) allowing a set ofpreformed roots to be established from the growing seed mix prior totransport to the site for installation.
 5. The method of claim 4 furthercomprising: a) installing the prevegetated blanket with the set ofpreformed roots at the site to provide a living plant matrix thereon;and b) permitting the set of preformed roots to become established atthe site in about two days after installation.
 6. The method of claim 5further comprising: a) hardening the prevegetated blankets by reducingwater for the prevegetated blankets before shipping; and b) securing aseries of the prevegetated blankets in a desired position on the site tocreate an erosion control blanket therefrom.
 7. The method of claim 6further comprising: a) overlapping the prevegetated blankets withadjoining prevegetated blankets prior to securing the series of blanketsto the site; b) providing a root space in each tray of the stack oftrays during the shipment; c) stacking the stack of stackable trays forshipping; and d) allowing water to run down the prevegetated blanket,without eroding same after installation due to the overlapping of theprevegetated blankets at an installation site.
 8. The method of claim 6further comprising: a) tucking an edge of a prevegetated blanket withoutan adjoining prevegetated blanket at the site; and b) providing theaggregate as substantially smooth, round stones, with a diameter ofabout 0.6 centimeters to about 2.5 centimeters to prevent root growthresistance before the at least one erosion control blanket is placed onthe aggregate.
 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising: a) the stackof trays being made from up to 24 trays for storage; and b) theprevegetated blanket being formed larger than the tray and cut to fitthe tray or shaped prior to the shipping.
 10. The method of claim 8further comprising: a) the stack of trays being made of up to 10 traysfor transport; b) the fibrous pad being 4 millimeters to 14 millimetersthick; and c) the prevegetated blanket being formed larger than the trayand cut to fit the tray or shaped prior to the shipping.
 11. A method offorming and transporting a prevegetated blanket comprising sequentially:a) providing an aggregate base about 10 centimeters to 33 centimetersthick to provide weed reduction; b) laying at least one erosion controlblanket on the aggregate; c) providing at least one growing medium to asurface of the at least one erosion control blanket at a thickness ofabout 0.3 to about 1.9 centimeters; d) applying a desired seed mix tothe at least one growing medium; e) applying a fertilizer to the desiredseed mix on the at least one growing medium to form an assembly; f)applying water to the assembly to form the prevegetated blanket; g)separating the prevegetated blanket from the aggregate base; h) cuttingthe prevegetated blanket; i) placing each cut prevegetated blanket in astackable tray after the cutting; j) forming at least two of thestackable trays into a tray assembly; k) forming a stack of trayassemblies; l) shaking each prevegetated blanket with the stackable trayprior to forming the tray assembly to remove any bonded aggregates; m)lifting the stack of the tray assemblies to a trailer for transport; n)watering the stack of the tray assemblies; o) covering the stack of thetray assemblies with a tarp to prevent moisture loss and damage; and p)shipping the stack of the tray assemblies to a site.